Utilizing an expansive force in the movement of liquid.



H. A. HUMPHREY.

UTILIZING AN EXPANSIVE FORCE IN THE MOVEMENT 0F LIQUID.

APPLICATION mm APR.30, I912. RENEWED use. 8. 1911.

1 72,269. Patented July 9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W'TNESSES INVENTOR m w I I \/%\M@%EJ AM f BY lkrfilmxal:

ATTORNEY H. A. HUMPHREY.

' UTILIZING AN EXPANSIVE FORCE INTHE MOVEMENT 0F LIQUID.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 30. I912. RENEWED DEC. 8. 1911.

1,272,269. Patented July 9,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR fWfim/ML ATTORNEY H. A. HUMPHREY. I UTILIZING AN EXPANSIVE FORCE IN THE MOVEMENT 0F LIQUIIL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, I9I2- RENEWED DEC. 8. I9".

Patented July 9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 INVENTOR vhMfi% BY ,4 I,

WITNESSES ATTDRNEY HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIG-NOB TO HUMPHREY GAS PUMP COMPANY, A- CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

UTILIZING AN EXPANSIV'E-FORCE IN THE MOVEMENT OF LIQUID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, 1918.

Application filed April 30, 1912, Serial 110,694,237, Renewed December 8, 1917. Serial No. 206,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain, residing in London,',,,England, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Utilizing an Expansive Force in the Movement of Liquid, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of utilizing an expansive force, in which liquid is moved by the expansive force of an ignited compressed combustible charge.

The present invention comprises the use of a plurality of solid or rigid masses or pistons operating in connection with the liquid, or a fluid and the expansible charges. The charges are preferably expanded between the said piston, or at least expanding simultaneously against said pistons. The several pistons may be composite or diiferential.

My invention comprises also means for controlling and utilizing compressed elastic cushions and also for controlling certain inlets and exits by said pistons. My invention also comprises the balancing or equalizing of the forces due to momentum or inertia, all of whichwill be fully described herein.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate merely by way of example, suitable means for effecting my invention Figure 1 is a vertical section of a pump having two pistons working in the combus tion chamber.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form showing means for securing uniform action of the two pistons.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing two pistons working in parallel but having a common combustion chamber.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionof further modifications especially in piston and air chamber arrangements.

Fig. 5 is a detail in part section of a modification in the solid piston.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of further 'modifications in piston and air chamber arrangements.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a similar View of'a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail indicating the arrangement for three piston devices.

. Fig. 1-0 is a similar View indicating the arrangement for four piston devices.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 7

In Fig 1, 1 is the combustion chamber in which move two pistons 2 and. 3. 'The position of these pistons is shown at the end of their outstrokes from the center of the combustion chamber when they have compressed elastic cushions in the spaces 4 and 5. These cushion spaces communicate with additional vessels for elastic fluid 6, 7, 8 and 9, arranged as shown and controllable by valves so that they can be shut off from the respective spaces with which they communicate. The pistons are in this case shown as having extensions 10 and 11 movingin cylinders 12 and 13 respectively which are of smaller diameter than'cylinder 1, The pistons are hollow and the ends turned away from the combustion chamber are open to allow access of liquid so that the working pistons 2, 3, in the combustion chamber may .be kept cool. Liquid to be raised or forced enters through pipes 14, 15, controlled byliquid inlet valves 16,- 17, and liquidreciprocates in the two branch pipes 18, 19, which .join into one pipe 20 leading to the place where liquid is delivered.

' Fitted in the combustionchamber 1 are exhaust valves 21, 22, and in the exhaust pipe there is a non-return valve 23. There is also a scavenging valve for air, 24, and a valve for combustible mixture 25. The apparatus when working on a 4-stroke cycle operates as follows v p In the combustion-chamber, we may assume that the two pistons 2, 3, 'are close to the center of the chamber and that there is compressed" between them a combustible charge which is ignited to give the power stroke. When expansion has reached atmospheric pressure exhaust valves 21 and 22 open and'the scavenging air valve 24: permits air to enter as the pistons continue their movement. This air being cool, and therefore denser than the hot products of combustion, may tend to lie along the bottom of the cylinder. During the first return stroke of the pistons exhaust gases are driven out through valves 21, 22 and past valve 23 so that when the valves are seated an elastic cushion consisting mostly of scavenging air will be compressed between the pistons. The energy of expansion of this cushion drives the pistons apart and gives the second outward stroke during the latter portion of which fresh combustible mix-.-

ture is drawn, in through valve 25. Then follows the second return stroke in which the fresh combustible charge is compressed. The exhaust, scavenging air, and gas valves may be interlocked in any suitable manner,

and 20 the'valves 16,17, being shut untilthe diminution of pressure on the top side. of these valves due to the momentum of the moving liquid causes the valves to open and fresh liquid to be taken in. The return of the reciprocating masses under the head or pressure to whichthe liquid has been raised or forced, aided it may be, by the expansion of the elastic cushions compressed, or by the continuation of such expansion, produces the first return stroke. On the second outstroke which occurs under the influence of the expansion of the elastic'cushion compressed in chamber lthe liquid may move in pipes 18, 19 and 20 without taking in fresh liquid but energy is thereby stored to produce or assist in producing the second return stroke. The function of the elastic cushions in 4,5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 is to control the movement of the pistons 2, 3, inthe desired manner and to store some of the energy which produces the return movements of the pistons, and

the advantage of having auxiliary cushions arises from the fact that the energy stored for a given movement of the pistons may be varied by varying the capacity of the cushions. These cushions may be normally at a pressure differing from atmospheric pres- .sure and their range of pressure changes may be adapted to suit varying conditions.

In Fig. 2 the corresponding parts are numbered to agree with Fig. 1 and the chief difference is that instead of differential solid pistons, the two pistons 2, 3, which reciprocate in the combustion chamber are attached byrods to pistons 26, 27, for compressing elastic cushions in spaces 28, 29. The piston rods on the respective sets of pistons are continued to crossheads 30, .31,

to which arelinked rods 32, 33, which in their turn are pivoted to the ends of a rocking arm 34 oscillating about a center shaft 35; By means of this arrangement the travel of the two pistons 2 and 3 may have fixed ratios and in the case shown their movements will be equal no matter'what the length of the stroke. Moreover, the additional moving parts introduced afford a ready means for operating any of the valves or other controlling devices and for timing the ignition. In the inner ends of the cylinders in which pistons 26, 27 reciprocate are shown openings 36, 37, for the admission and rejection of air, so that elastic cushions are in such, case only formed in the spaces 28, 29. By closing up these openings energy may be stored by creating a partial, vacuum which would assist cushions 28, 29 in producing a return stroke. F

. In-Fig. 3 the two pistonsf2, 3 instead of working in the same cylinder reciprocate in two separate cylinders 38', 39, which com- 'municate at the top through the passage 40 so that on the power stroke when combustion occurs both pistons move downward together. Attached to the two pistons are two other pistons 41, 42, joined by distance pieces 43, 44 respectively. The distance pieces are not of sufiicient length to prevent the upper pistons 2 and 3 working on surfaces of the walls which are not wet, but the lower pistons 41', 42, will sweep away the liquid from the walls of the chambers and any liquid which may escape past the lower pistons may find an outlet through non-return valve 45, a liquid seal being put on this valve. Admission valves 24 and exhaust valves 21 are .fitted around the respective cylinders at suitable heights therein, and a non-return valve 23' prevents exhaust gases from returning to the combustion chamber. In the position of the pistons shown in the Fig. .3 there is a compressed combustible piston 3 passes the level of the ports 47 the valves 21 will be held closed-"on their seats by the pressure of the gases in the cylinder but when expansion has reached atmospheric pressure valves 21 will open'either by their charge in the tops of the cylinders and in the V own springs or by suction and remain open during the furtherdownward movements of the pistons and the following upward movement until the top of piston 3 again closes the ports 47. During the latter part of the downward movement after the exhaust gases have expanded to about atmospheric pressure the further movement of the pistons draws in a charge of combustible mixture through Valves 24 and on the return movement of the pistons exhaust gases are driven out through valves 21 until the rising of the piston 3 closes ports-47. Further movement compresses the charge which will now be situated above the pistons and the increase of pressure acting upon valves 21, the heads of which have a piston fit in circular recesses,

chamber 48 and the pistons brought to rest while the liquid column is still moving out- On the right hand side of cylinder 48 is shown a by-pass 49 opening into the cylin-. der 48 by ports 50, 51, so that the elastic fluid below piston 52 which is attached by rods 53 to the pistons 2 and 3 may be forced through port 51 and by-pass 49 to the top side of piston 52 as the latter moves downward. When, however port 51 is passed the only escape for elastic fluid from below the piston 51 is through port 54 and valve 55. By adjusting'the extent to which valve 55 is closed the further downward movement of piston 52 may be arrested as desired but in any case if its movement extends beyond port 54 it will compress the remaining elastic fluid below piston 52. The upward movement of the pistons may be brought about by the return stroke of the liquid column in the play pipe assisted in some cases by the expansion of the elastic fluid compressed below port 54 and it maybe by fresh liquid flowing in under pressure when the level of the liquid supply is suitable.

A modification in which pistons 2 and 3 which reciprocate in a common combustion chamber 1 and serve the functions of openingand closing ports for the admission and exhaust of the elastic fluids, is shown in Fig.

4. Thus, a ring of exhaust ports in the cylinder walls of. chamber 1 communicate with an exhaust pipe 58. Another. ring of ports communicates with the scavenging air pipe 59 and athird ring of ports communicates with the combustible gas supply pipe 66. The reciprocation ofpiston 61 which forms part of the piston 2 causes the intake of combustible gas through valve 62 and its delivery into the storage vessel 63. Similarly, the reciprocation of piston 64 causes the intake of scavenging air through the inlet valvei 65 and its delivery. into the storage vessel 66. There are two other pistons 67 68, connected respectively to pistons 2 and 3 which act upon the liquid in contact with their outer faces. On their inner faces they are in contact with air which is alternately drawn into and exhausted from the cylinders in which they work. This air may be utilized for any useful purpose and if the inner ends of the cylinders are closed a partial vacuum can be produced to assistthe elastic cushions constituted in the spaces 69, 70, in producing an inward movement of the pistons. The apparatus works on the 2-stroke cycle aS. follows :-On ignition of the compressed combustible charge contained between the two pistons 2 and 3 the pistons are driven apart so that toward the latter part of the outstroke the respective ports are uncovered by the pistons and exhaust gases are blown out of the combustion chamber by the entrance under pressure of scavenging air and then of a mixture of air and gasin the well known manner of the Oechelhauser cycle. The inward stroke may be produced entirely by means of energy stored in elastic cushions such as the gas and air entrapped in the spaces 69, 70, when the respective pistons close the outlets to the reservoirs 63 and 66, but in. the present case these cushions are shown comparatively small to indicate that the energy for the re turn stroke which compresses the fresh com- -bustible charge may be furnished by the liquid in pipe 20 returning under the head or pressure against which it has been raised or forced.

A useful modification in connection with the solid reciprocating pistons is shown in Fig. 5, where piston 61 is the pump piston which takes in and delivers combustible gas to the reservoir 63 and so to the combustion chamber, but in this case the delivery of the gas is through channels 73 between the working face of piston 61 and ports on the periphery and close to the face of piston 2 which can register with ports 74 for blowing in the gas. Thus, in the position shown gas is compressed in reservoir 63 and space 69 and can pass freely through the channels 7 3 and ports 74 into the combustion chamber 1. If the scavenging air is compressed to a ratherhigher pressure in the reservoir 66 as compared with the pressure of the gas in 63 there need be no delivery of gas into pipe 59 when the openings in the piston pass the scavenging air ports.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modification in which there need be no reciprocatin mass of li uid returning toward the com ustion cham r to compress a fresh combustible charge, for in this case there may be provided a sufficient store of energy in the elastic cushions to produce the return movement of the pistons and to compress the charge in the combustion chamber previous to ignition. It is then possible to introduce nonreturn valves 75, 76, so that the'liquid acted upon by pistons 67, 68, having been forced through these valves, cannot return. In this case there are-shown close to the last mentioned valves air vessels 77, 78 from which liquid may flow more or less continuously in one direction through the pipes 18, 19, 20. As before, the pistons 2, 61, 67 are rigidly attached and reciprocated together as a liquid raising-or forcing unit, but the pistons 61 and 2 are constructed with an internal cylinder as shown to receive a stationary plunger 79. Through the plunger are a number of passages 80 leading to the vessels for elastic fluid 6 and 7, so that elastic fluid compressed in the space 81 can pass through a series of passages 80 into the vessels 6 and 7 as the piston 2 moves to the left, thereby storing the energy required for producing the return stroke. Some of the. en-

' ergy may also be stored in the space 69 and there are many ways. of arranging suitableelastic cushions which maybe made adjustable in capacity. There may for instance be an air cushion placed in communication with the liquid between the liquid inlet valves 16 and the delivery valves 75. In the example shown in Fig. 6 both the liquid inlet valves 16, 17, and the liquid discharge valves 75, 76, are shown communicating with air vessels so that the inertia of the moving mass of liquid may be reduced to a minimum. As

Figs. 7 and 8 show diagrammatically how the various parts of the apparatus may be arranged so as to produce a complete balance of such forces in all directions. In Fig. 7 there are two inlet pipes for liquid 14, 15, and two delivery pipes for liquid 20, 20, arranged symmetrically, and the pipes for liquid 18, 19, are duplicated at18, 19 The flow of liquid through 14, 15, respectively may at all parts of the cycle be the same in velocity and likewise the delivery of liquid at 20, 20, respectively may through all parts of the cycle be at the same velocity. In Fig. 7 theliquid in the pipes 18, 19, 20 reciprocates, but in Fig. 8 there isshown a symmetrical arrangement of apparatus in which the liquid moves only in one direction in the pipes 18, 19, and 18, 19". In this case air vessels 77, 78, on the one side of the apparatus may be balanced by other air vessel's 77 7 8, and all four air'vessels may be made of such a size that there is approximately constant flow on liquid from them. As Fig. 7 corresponds with Fig, 1 and Fig. 8 corresponds with Fig. 6 except for the additional connectionsfor liquid which are used to produce the balance of forces, the general cycles of operation need not be described.

When there are three pistons acted upon by the expanding combustible gases they may be arranged symmetrically as shown in Fig. 9. In such case it is generally desirable that the three pistons should perform similar functions. When the number of pistons isincreased to four they may be arranged symmetrically as shown in Fig. 10, and in this case one pair of pistons which are coaxial may differ in function from the other pair of pistons and yet there may be a complete balance'of forces. Thus pistons 87, 84, may act upon liquid and pistons 85, 86, may act upon elastic fluid and may serve the purpose of supplyingscavenging air and the constituents of the combustible mixture to the combustion chamber. One set of coaxial pistons may differ in diamcterfrom the other set of co-axial pistons, and it is generally desirable that the ignition should be timed or operated by the movements of those pistons which act upon liquid. If all the four pistons of Fig. 10 are used for compressing elastic fiuid two of the pistons may be used to deliver elastic fluid for external use and the other two pistons for supplying scavenging air and combustible mixture to the combustion chamber.

What I claim is 1. The combination of an expansion chamber, play pipes for the reciprocation of liquid connected therewith and a plurality of pistons having their ends operating in the expansion chamber with theirother ends acting directly upon the liquid.

2.. The combination of an expansion chamber, pipes for the reciprocation of liquid connected therewith, a plurality of pistons each having an end operating in the expansion chamber, the other ends acting directly upon the liquid, and means for ,forming elastic cushions adapted to store energy on the power stroke and to give up energy in connection with the return stroke of the pistons.

3. An expansion chamber, a plurality of pistons operating therein, a play pipe for the reciprocation of liquid, means whereby the pistons are actuated by a primary medium to operate directly against the liquid and means whereby the momentum of the liquid column may be utilized to introduce fresh liquid.

4;. An expansion chamber, a plurality of pistons operating therein, a play pipe for liquid, means whereby the pistons are actuated by a primary medium in the expansion chamber to operate directly against the liquid to actuate the same, and whereby the liquid on its return stroke operates directly upon the pistons to actuate the same.

'5. An expansion chamber, a plurality of pistons operating therein, a. play pipe for liquid of suflicient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum, means whereby the pistons are a'c'tuated by a primary medium to operate directly against the liquid, and means for forming elastic cushions for storing and imparting energy during the different cycles of operation.

6. An expansion chamber, a plurality of pistons operating therein, a play pipe for liquid of suificient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum, means whereby the pistons are actuated by a primary medium in the expansion chamber to operate directly against the liquid, means for forming elastic cushions for. storing and imparting energy during the different cycles of operation, and means for rendering ineffective one or more of the said elastic cushions.

7. The combination of an expansion chamber, pipes for the reciprocation of liquid, a plurality of differential pistons each having an end operating in the expansion chamber with the other end acting directly upon the liquid to be forced.

8. The combination of an expansion chamber, pipes connected therewith for the movement of liquid of sufficient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of pistons each having an .end operating in the expansion chamber with the other end acting. directly upon the liquid, the expansion chamber provided with inlet and discharge valves, and means whereby the power stroke serves to draw in scavenging air and also a fresh expansible charge.

9. The combination of an expansion chamber, pipes connected therewith for the movement of liquid of suflicient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of pistons each having an end operating in the expansion chamber with the other end acting directly upon the liquid, the expansion chamber provided with inlet and discharge valves, means for drawing in scavenging air upon the power stroke and also a fresh expansible charge, and means whereby the return stroke of the liquid acts upon the piston to compress the charge.

10. The combination of an expansion chamber, a play pipe for the movement of liquid connected therewith and a plurality of pistons each having-an end operating in the expansion chamber with the other. end acting directly upon the liquid to be forced, means whereby the movement of the liquid in the outstroke causes the introduction of fresh liquid into the play pipe.

11. The combination -of an expansion chamber, pipes for the movement of liquid connected therewith and a plurality of pis tons having their power ends operating in the expansion chamber with their pumping ends acting directly upon the liquid to be forced, said pistons being hollow with their pumping ends open to theliquid.

12. The combination of an expansion chamber, pump cylinders and a. play pipe for liquid of sufficient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of pistons operating in the expansion cylinders and adapted to operate directly upon the liquid in the play pipe, the cylinders provided with intake and discharge ports for air and gas adapted to be controlled by the pistons.

14. The combination of an expansion chamber, pump cylinders and a play pipe for liquid of suflicient bulk and path of travel to acquire useful momentum, a plurality of pistons operating in the expansion chamber having extensions operating in the cylinders and adapted to operate directly upon the liquid in the play pipe, the cylinders'provided with intake and discharge ports for air and gas adapted to be controlled by the pistons, and means whereby air is trapped and compressed in said cylinder and whereby the compressed air is utilized to deliver at the proper point in the expansion chamber and atthe desired moment scaven ing air and gas. v

15. The com ination of an expansion chamber, pump cylinders and a play pipe connected therewith, a plurality of pistons operating in the expansion chamber having extensions operating in the cylinders and adapted to operate directly upon the liquid in the play pipe, the cylinders provided with intake and discharge ports for air and gas adapted to be controlled by the pistons, and means for trapping and compressing air between the pistons and cylinder walls to blow out the exhaust gases.

,16. The combination of an expansion chamber, pump cylinders and a play pipe connected therewith, a plurality of pistons operating in the expansion chamber having extensions operating in the cylinders and adapted tooperate directly upon the liquid in the play pipe, the cylinders provided with intake and discharge ports for air and gas adapted .to be controlled by the pistons, and means for trapping and compressing air between the pistons and the cylinder walls and utilizing said compressed air for entraining said combustible mixture.

HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY." 

